August 23, 2025 (Gresham, Ore.) – A marathon mediation session resulted in ONA-represented nurses at Legacy Mt. Hood reaching a tentative agreement for their first contract. The tentative agreement now heads to all 440 RNs for a ratification vote.
“We’re proud to care for patients at Legacy Mt. Hood and serve the East County community. This tentative agreement demonstrates a real commitment to frontline caregivers, patients, and our community as a whole. If ratified, this contract will help recruit and retain nurses and ensure our patients receive the care they need and deserve,” said Jenni Suarez, RN at Legacy Mt. Hood and ONA Bargaining Team member.
Tentative Agreement Highlights
The tentative agreement includes several important wins for nurses and patients, such as:
- Just cause protections to prevent unfair discipline or termination.
- A strong grievance process with binding arbitration to ensure fair enforcement of the contract.
- A transparent, published wage scale that guarantees consistency and equity.
- Competitive wages in line with other hospital systems.
- Dedicated security staffing to keep frontline caregivers safe.
- Paid time off for nurses recovering from workplace assaults.
- A union shop to strengthen solidarity and support union growth.
“The closure of the Family Birth Center was what pushed us to form our union. We have worked tirelessly over the last two years to ensure a solid first contract we can be proud of. This contract is a fantastic foundation to build on for all the nurses who will follow,” said Christie Mikrut, RN at Legacy Mt. Hood and ONA Bargaining Team member.
The tentative agreement now moves to the full bargaining unit for a ratification vote.
Background on Legacy Health
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, located in Gresham, is part of Legacy Health, the Portland metro area’s second-largest healthcare system, serving hundreds of thousands of patients and employing more than 14,000 people.
Ten ONA bargaining units—representing nearly 3,000 caregivers—are currently negotiating with Legacy, seeking improvements in staffing, wages, benefits, transparency, and workplace safety. ONA’s sister union, Northwest Medicine United (NWMU), represents another 475 healthcare professionals, including physicians, who are also bargaining their first contracts with Legacy.
